This film is an excellent adaptation of Balzac's masterpieces, 'Lost Illusions' (the last part) and 'The splendors and miseries of courtesans'.

Vautrin, alias Carlos Herrera, is a convict on the run, who disguises himself as a Spanish diplomat (Carlos Herrera) after the latter is killed by his traveling companion, Calvi ('an aunt').

Vautrin sees in Lucien Chardon (de Rubempré), whom he saved from suicide, an alter-ego and an opportunity to redeem himself from the abject life he led. He wants Lucien to marry a member of the nobility. But therefore, Lucien must be the owner of an estate; so money is needed. Vautrin tries to extort the necessary sums from a rich banker who is madly in love with Lucien's mistress.

Will Vautrin achieve all his goals?

The film plays on different levels, such as the physical attraction of the 'young leader' on women (the individual), the divide between the classes (society) and money (its power, which gives one the possibility to enter the upper classes).

An astonishing Michel Simon in the role of Vautrin.